Teacher Victoria Soto, who died trying to protect her students, to be buried today

Victoria Soto, whose family said she died protecting her terrified students from rifle fire, will be remembered in her hometown of Stratford, Conn., where the 27-year-old still lived with her close-knit family.

It’s expected many of the mourners will be wearing scarves and ribbons of green – Soto’s favorite color. Her family is certain to talk about her devotion to her students, so many of whom were murdered despite her selfless efforts.

“They brought a smile to her face always,” her sister, Carlee, told TODAY on Sunday. “She loved those students more than anything. She didn’t call them her students. She called them her kids.”

Soto’s aunt was a teacher, and she always knew she wanted to follow in her footsteps. At Sandy Hook Elementary, where she was in her fifth year of teaching, she presided over Classroom 10 with a warm smile.